New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-29
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS.
THE WEEK In ART CIRCLES.
Mr.. wCNDERICH's COSTLY PURCHAsEs-NoTEs OF
PAINTINGS AND PRINTS.

1t appears that Mr.. Hermann wundcrllch has the
DISTINCTION Of having paid the largest price for an
etching ever given by an American, and tho etching
in question, Of the two existing proofs OF tho
first state Of Rembrandts "Plate presenting Christ
to the people," Is now upon exhibition at the Wun-
dcrlich gallery At the recent Bueceugh sale Mr.,
Wunderlch paid for this proof, which Is 10 by
~ BIO inches, the enormous sum Of 1880. 40
the sale Mr.. Wunderch purchased for $1,000
proof OF state considered TO BE- intermediate be-
tween tho first and second of Rcmbrandts "Portrait
Of Dr. Petrus Van Toll" popularity. but according to
Blanc enormously, known the portrait OF the "Ad-
vodete Van Tolling' For proof Of tho first state
NJ. Dutuit at the Griths sale I'm 1888 paid 1880
which Is believed TO be the largest price paid for
an etching. At tho Ducceugh sale the Berlin Mu-
scum paid $4,000 for first state Of the "Hundrod
GuIdero print, as noted last week. and the "Portrat
OF Mytenbogaert" brought $4,000. The chief buyers
arc mentioned as tho Berlin Museum, Baron Edmond
de Rothschld, Mr. Wunderllch and Mr.. Theodore,
Irwin OF 0swegO, owner Of remarkable KemDrahuo
collection. Nh Wunderlich's gallery Is likely to DO
"contro Of interest" for tlne since many who
care little for the intrinsic worth OF Rembrandts
etched work will DO curious TO see the costhest etch-
Ing in this country.
Tho in the "Pllate presenting Christi Is the
front OF the judgment hall with the base Of portico
projecting, on which Plate and his attendants,
showing Jesus to the people assembled before 1t.
In two inches above tho statues OF Justice and
Force. Plate with wand In his right hand points
with his left mt Jesus, who stands in front with his
hands tied. On the ground in tire left corner Is
man in pumed cap haranguins the mob and point
ing with his left hand toward our saviour On
either silo arc two buildings further removed With
people at the windows. At the foot Of stairway
on the right a Jew with u great beard advances,
whose shadow Is strongly marked There are about
thirty figures lightly indicated and shaded The
building the left, whose facade is in shade, pre-
sents a window ornamcnted with pilasters, at which
woman looking out and soldier In profile.
Bartsch considers that Rembrandt himself deemed
that 10 had made mistake In efacing the figures
before tho portlco which do not appear in the later
states and destroyed tho plato In consequence, which
explains tho especial rarity Of the later proofs Blanc
holds, however, that Rembrandt eliminated the crowd
because he that IL Distracted attcation from the
Genital group, Christ and the surrounding figures,
and that tho plato was broken because the brutal
manner" in which tho change was mado injured lt
severely. Blanc calls attention TO the living and
moving crowd the strongly marked jewish character
lstics tho "Ialian air" Of Plate despite his turban,
tho bastard style OF tho architecture which s not
Roman. and tho grandeur Of the statues Of Justice
and Force suggesting caryatides Of Michael Angelo
o. models.
There arc seven states Of this print Rembrandt
was unable TO procure sheets OF China paper largo
enough Tor the plate and in the first two states strips
of paper have been pasted 20 the original sheets at
the TOP. proof OF the first state was sold for $50
forms In ls47. Do C1aussn described one belong
ing TO NJ Robert, OF Paris, unique, but Wilson
found another, also mentioned by Blanc In tho
Demon collection Tho latter was purchased by the
D0ao OF Buccleugh and Is the one now owned by
MI Wundcrlich. Nearly all the work, it should be
said was done With the dry point and the bur In the
first state ia very pronounced The execution Is
distinguished by lghtncss but expesslvcness Of line
and an indcscribablo animation.
Tho portrait OF DR. potrus Van TOl ia one Of the
rarest OF Rcmbnndts etchings. Blanc gives de-
scripton Of the exciting scene at the Carew sale in
London In 900. when Of these proofs aroused the
intense rivalry OF the leading amateurs and dealers Of
Europe After a pathetic appeal from NJ. Claussin
who throw himself upon the generosity Of his com
pcttors tho proof went 20 the Minister OF state OF
Holland for about sl.1o0. Tho subject is man
with beard, wearing q high broad-rmmed hat, seen
nearly IN full faco with boots open on the table be-
folo him, glasses at his right hand, bottle corked
with linen cloth on the left Tho perfect natural
lem, individuality and charming execution OF this
admirable work known TO all prlnt4overs, but 10
IS Ut cour-c, tho rarity of these impressions which
gives uom their especial commercial value. "a has
BEEN said there IA only other proof OF the first
stao of tho "Platc presenting Christ" Wilson, who.
however, f. cft"n inaccurate, mentions two PROOFS
Of the first state OF the Van Tol, and three of tho
second state The Buccleush proof was catalosued
"a OF tho second stato, but comparison after tho
oe decided 10 be OF an intermediate state and its
vauo for chalcomaniacs viii therefore he increased
This exhibition, the exhibition OF COusins's engrv-
nas at tho schaus gallery, the Prize Fund paintings
and tho collection OF French pictures ut the Academy
seem to Indicate sustained Interest in art which
members tho season longer and longer every year. but
IL may DO doubted whether there Is any profit In
exhibitions after Juno l. The Prize Fund
exhibition does not seem TO DO we'll attended although
tho sales amount 10 O considerable sum. Perhaps
tho extraordinary prize giving has hadsomethng to do
with lessening popular interest. "The Art Amateur
surgosts that "the cratic awards by tho anonym
prIo Fund committee likely to affect seriously
in future the quality Of the pictures to be sent III
Especially just now when the subscriptions seem
in danger OF 'pctcrng out, aForiing the means of
only two prizes, would lt seem 10 DC OK
pedient to have tho awards made with Intelligent
II should be added that some Of tho awards OF
medals mado by tho artists have been as "eratlc'
ms ANYTHING ever done at these exhibitions by anna
tours MI Weirs etill-life. perhaps tho best piece
OF painting in the exhibition was passed over and
medal given Mr.. Wggins's cattlo piece, which has
ncthor beauty distinction OF execution, nor any
especial interest. Mr.. Arthur Parton, whose work
for the last three OF four years has shown marked
Improvement a serious purpose and earnest effort,
exhibits a strong painting of material found at homo
and made pictorial, but his Harlem Bridge was
Ignored although artist has better earned recog
milton by his conscionuousness Mr.. Tryons "sheep-
fold" picture pleasant enough but In no way IN
dlyldual as visitors to Mr.. Waltors's gallery can
thy was certainly "erratic" choico for medal
which might better have been given to his October
There was no intrinsic reason for giving medal To
Mr. Murphys slightly modified and weakened rduc-
lion OF his picture In the Society exhibition. And
tho most erratc" award OF all was the bestowa Of
4 medal upon tho absurd "herO0" figure perpctrated
by r. Hartley. All that Is to be commended Is an
ambitious purpose and some good modelling But tho
urludioso design belongs " the early part OF tho
century, and the prcposerous head, tho shield held
up as II TO keep OF THO ram, tho trunk out OF an